What Love Sounds Like

It's hard to understand
When you're young
It seems like parents--
Grandparents, teachers,
Aunts and Uncles, older friends--
Can't stop telling you
What to do.
 
You might think
We think
You've got no brain in your head
You'd be wrong.
That's not the reason at all.
 
We say, "Drive safe,"
Because we know an accident
Could be just around the corner--
Most take place
Less than five miles from home.
We say, "Be Careful!"
Because we know
Distraction with a power tool
Can mean a serious injury.
 
We can remember
How annoying it was
When we were the teens
On the receiving end of the warnings.
We rolled our eyes too.
 
What we didn't realize
Was that every "Drive safe!"
Was meant to hold back tears--
The very thought of the danger
We're letting you face
Almost more than we can bear.
Now we know-- life has taught us--
It only takes a moment
For a fatal misstep.
 
And the mere possibility
Of that kind of tragedy
Makes us want to lock you in your rooms
Where we can keep you safe
Forever.
 
But we love you too much
To be that selfish.
So we let you go.
 
We let you go--
But we can't help
Saying-- praying,
Pleading, ordering--
"Drive safe,"
"Be careful,"
"Call me when you get there,"
"Let me know you're okay,"
 
"I love you!"